Concentrator.



1. B. FREEMAN.

CONCENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 23, 1913. RENEWED MAY 23,1917. lg

Patented July 10, 191?.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 La 1 wzmms@ 1. B. FREEMAN.

CONCENTRATR. Y 23| 19|?. APPLICATION FILED DEC.23|1913. RENEWED MA L9 "Y lyggg? Patented July 10, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- J. B. FREEMAN.

coNcENmmoR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 23| l9l3. RENEWED MAY 23| 19|?.

Patented July 10, 1917.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

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JAMES 1B. FREEMAN, Uli LUS ANGELES, Glhlalllitlmdm.

CUNCENTMWUE.

dpecitlcation of Letters Patent.

Patented duly lbt, ldd?.

Application tiled December at, 1913, aerial lto. behlt. ltenewed may w, w17. aerial tto. Mundt.

To all 'whom t may concern.; Y Y

Bc it known that l, JAMES FREEMAN, a citizen ot the United States, residing 'at Los Angeles; in the county 'ot Los Angeles* and State ot California, have inven a new' and useful llnprovement in `Concentrators, of which the following is a specihcation. Y

My invention relates to concentrators Awhich are adapted to separate the heavier Vvery expensive, and in many locations is absolutely unattainable. Where valuable ore is obtainable in such locations it is necessary to haul it to water it it is desired to obtain the concentrates therefrom by the wet method. Such hauli is Otten so expensive as to make. the working ot the ore nnprohtable. The principal object ol my invention is to provide means whereby the concentrates may be obtained directly at the mine without the use ot' water, thereby overcoming the above mentioned difficulties.

llfet concentration is also not entirely successtul in working some sorts ol materials due to a variety of reasons, among which may be mentioned the tendencyto float of certain valuable constituents of such ores which have a high specific gravity but are of a peculiar shape or size. Y

A further object'ot my invention is to provide means lwhereby a more complete separation ol the valuable portions ot a certain ore is obtained than has been possible by using the wet process.

'lhere are further certain ores that are.

readily and successfully concentrated by the wet process, but which may be more cheaply separated by the dry process even where exact character and magnitude ot the motion Vther object ot my invention is to provide tor such adjustments.

The separation trom any ore ol a high grade concentrate is more or less impossible without producing in the intermediate stages a number ot concentrates ol lower but considerable value. 'lhese concentrates it allowed to mia with the high grade concentrates reduce the value thereof, and it thrown in with the tailings are a total loss. d. further object ot my invention is to return such concentrates to the head of the table lor retreatment and to provide means whereby the exact division line between tailings and returned concentrates may be adjusted. Y

Further objects and advantages will appear hereinafter. Y

Yln the drawings, which are for illustra tive purposes only: p

Figure l and l1`ig.-2 are side elevations, partly brolren away and partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a partial section on the line :r3-m3 of 2.

lignd is a side elevation partly in seetion.

lig. 5 is a partial section on the line :n-m5' ol" Fig. 2.

big. 6 is a plan ot' a portion ol the machine partly Vbroken away.

Fig. 'I is a sectional perspective, and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view olf portions ol the concentrator.

ltly invention consists broadly ot a sub base l0 upon which is hined a base ll. which carries a bellows chamer l2 in which are the bellows 13. 'lhe bellows lorca air ldd into apressurecharnber ldand through a regulating valve l5 into a table chamber ld. 'llhe vibrating table l? is directly over the table chamber and the air is ldreed therethrough in unidirectional pads. il. hoch ld covers the top ot the table, and a hopper ld lltl with suit/able mechanism feeds the pulped ore onto the table. The concentrates are discharged from a spout 20 and the tailings from a spout 21. A conveyer 22 carries a portionof the lower grade concentrates to the spout 20 and conveyers 23 and 24 carry similar concentrates to the elevator v29 is carried on bearings 30 which are oar ried on the base 11. The shaft 29 is actuated by a Crank 31 and carries bevel gears 32 which mesh with bevel gears 33 on the screws 34. The screws 34 are carried in bearings 35 cast integral with the bearings 30 and in lbearings 36 secured to the sub base 10. A nut 37 travels on each of these screws being connected by a link 38 -to a casting 39 rigidly fastened to the base 11. By rotating the crank 31 the screws 34 are rotated thus raising and lowering the nuts 37 and elevating and depressing one end of the concentrator which turns about the shaft 26. This raising and lowering changes the angle of inclination -to the horizontal of the The lower end of the bellows chamber 12 is provided with a pivot 40 which extends down into the base 11 and about which the concentrator proper may be turned.- Roller bearings 41 are provided to reduce the friction of this turning which is regulated by l on the base 11 and engages apivoted nut 45 a 'screw 42 actuated by a crank 43. The screw 42 is carried in a bearing 44 secured carried on the bellows chamber of the concentrator. By rotating the screw 42 the I concentrator proper may be turned u on the pivot 40. This turning changes the inclina- "tion of theriflies to the horizontal.

In the bellows chamber 12 are placed the bellows 13. Each of these bellows consists of two side boards 46 each of which is `equipped with a valve 47 which allows air to pass into the bellows but resists its expulsion. A center board 48 is hinged at 49 andv is swung backward and forward by the connecting bars 50 on either side thereof. An opening 51 is provided from either side of the .bellows into the chamber 14, these openings being provided with valvesY 52 which will allow air to be expelled from the bellows but preilent its entrance. Leather nl'embers 53 connect the boards 46 and 48.

The bellows are so mounted that they may YYbe easily removed for inspection or rcpalr.

The regulating valve 15 consists of a plurality of stationary slats 54 having openings 55 therebetween. A plurality of`movable slats 56 with openings 57 therebetween are provided, the slats 56 being fastened together by the braces 58. The slats 56 are directly below and slightly narrower than the openings 55 which they are adapted to partially close, being-actuated by the screw 59. This screw is provided with a handle 60 and is carried in a bearing 61 on the casing of the concentrator extending inwardly and engaging a nut 62 on a slat 56. By turning the handle 60` the slats 56 may be made to open and close the openings 55.

The table 17 consists of a layer of wire gauze 63, a layer of canvas 64, and a sheet of finely perforated metal 65, the parts 63, 64 and 65 being secured to a frame 66 having cross pieces 67. On top of the table are a series of riilles 68, these riilles being preferably secured to the cross pieces 67 by small brads passing through the parts .63, 64 and and helping to bind these parts firmly together. An apron 68 preferably of leather makes an air tight flexible closure between the frame 66 and the walls of the table chamber 16, allowing considerable air pr'essure to be maintained below the table l across and slanting downward of the table and are preferably formed of light strips of wood. The frame 66 is supported on links 69 pivoted in bearings 79 carried on that frame and pivoted on a bar 7l slidably mounted on the ends of the table chamber- 16. These bars may be shifted across the concentrator by means of the handle 72 of thescrew 73v which iscarried in a bearing 74 on the walls of the table chamber 16 and which extends out and engages a nut 75 carried on the bar 71. By shifting the bar 71 thepath of the table may be varied, the table either lifting or dropping as it advances dependlng upon the position of the pivots of the links 69 which are determined by the position of the bar 71. v

The table is vibrated by a series of eccentrics '76 secured to a shaft 77 which turns in bearings-78. The eccentrics 76 are referably formed of two eccentric sleeves 9 and 80 which are mutually adjustable to vary the throw ,of the combination. The eccentrics 76 press againstl plates 81 upon the frame' 66 of the table 17 and force the frame away from the'shaft 77. A series of springs 82 mounted around bolts 83 and pressing against brackets 84 tend to resist the force of the eccentrics by exerting pressure on plates 85 mounted on the frame 66, forcing that frame toward thevshaft 77. `The turning of the eccentrics76 forces the table '17 to move in one direction and the springs 82 The riiiies 68 are disposed diagonally` 'so A Lasagna force it back, the amount of throw being regulated by the adjustment cf the sleeve 80 on the sleeve 79.

The hood 18 is mounted at one end on the brackets 86 and on the other end to an extension 87 of the table chamber. 'l he hood is stationary and is provided Vwith a dust outlet 88 to which suitable conduits may be attached for thc purpose of carrying the liner particles of dust out of the concentrating room. j

The hopper 19 is also secured to the upper end of the projection 87. A series of rolls 89, 90,91 and 92 are placed inside the hopper and serve to regulate the rate of feed of the pulverized ore passing to the table 17 through the opening 93. The rolls 89, 90 and 91 are connected at one end by suitable gearing 91 andthe rolls 89 and 92 are connected at the other end by a chain 95 `passing over suitable sprockets.

The function of the rollers is not only to regulate the How of pulped ore onto the table, but in addition to provide a scouring action for freeing theV valuable metal from any adhering particles of quartz.l

'lhe moving parts Idescribed above are all primarily actuated through the belt 96 which is driven from a source .not shown and which actuates the pulley 97 on the shaft 98. 'lhe shaft 98 drives `a shaft 100 which carries the roll 8.9 by means of'a chain 101 which passes over suitable sprockets on the shafts 98 and 100. 'llhe shaft 100 drives a shaft 102 through a chain 103, suitable sprockets being provided on the shafts 100 and 102 for this chain. The shaft 102 forms the head shaft of the elevator 25 which is composed of chains 101 and buckets 105.`

'lhc elevator 25 is provided with a foot shaft 106` suitable sprockets being suppliqd on the shafts 102 and 106 so that they mo've together. The conveyer 22 is provided with a shaft 107 which is driven from a shaft 108 by suitable bevel gearing, the shaft 108 being driven by means of sultable sprockets and a chain 109 from the shaft 106. A shaft V110 of the couveyer 23 is driven by bevel gears 111 from the shaft 107. rllhe conveyer '.24 has a shaft 112 which is driven by means of a chain 113 and suitable sprockets from.

the lhandle 116 which is attached to a screw 117. By adjusting the radial position of the vroller 115 the speed-of the shaft 77 may be varied. this shaft carryin the eccentrics 76 which vibrate the table 1 'lhe shaft 98 also actuates a shaft 118 thi-.mgh a chain 119 and suitable sprockets.

The shaft 118 drives a shaft 120 by means of a pair of cone pulleys 121'and 122 and a. floating belt 122i. The position of this belt may be varied by the adjusting mechanism 121 so that the speed of the shaft 120 may be varied with relation -to the shaft 118. Un either end of the shaft 120 is an adjustable crank plate 125 which has a diametrically placed slot in which a crank pin 126 may be adjusted at various radial distances. livoted to this crank pin is a connection rod .127 which is attached to the connection bars 50 which actuate the bellows. By adjusting the radial distance of the pin 126 with relation to the center of the shaft 120, the throw of the pin 126 may vbe varied and consequently the movement of the center boards 48 may be regulated.

'lhe method of operation of my invention is as follows: Pulverized ore or lacer ground being fed into the hopper 19 1s distributed evenly in .that hopper by the rolls 89, 90, 91 and 92 and fed through the opening 93 onto the table 17 at the head thereof or at 128 as shown in Fig. 6. rl`he table has an oscillatin motion imparted as described above and air pressure is admitted to the table chamber 16 from the bellows 13 which are actuated .as described above. An opening 129 is provided in the bellows chamber for the admission of air. Either the length of stroke or the frequency of the stroke of the bellows can be regulated, the length of stroke by shifting the pin 126 and the frequency by shifting the belt 123. 'llhe natia-A ral output of the bellows is compressed air which 1s delivered in a succession of short sharp puffs to the pressure chamber 1t. For the purpose of modifying the character of these puffs, the valve 15 is provided. By manipulating this valve the character ofthe Vpuffs may be veryconsiderably modified. llf

the valve 15 is very nearly closed the air will pass from the pressure .chamber 141 into the table chamber 16 continuously and with a nearly constant force. its the valve is opened further variations in the pressure will become more marked until finally with the valve wide open the maximums and minimums of pressure inherent to the bellows will appear in the air as it einer es from the table chamber 16 through the ta le 17. ln practice, the valve 15 is manipulated so that the pads are of the. proper magnitude to suit the ore to be treated.

'llhe ulverized ore fallin on the head of the tab e at 128 is subjecte to an agitating or shiftin action due to the vibration of the table an to a simultaneous winnowing action due to the air pressure. 'this pressure is so adjusted that it lifts the lighter and less valuable particles, leaving the heavier concentrates to travel alon the spaces between the ries. tls the ta le is inclined the lighter particles are lift/ed and 13@ fall over the riilles, traveling len hwise along ythe table. In practice, the eavier and more valuable concentrates travel diagonally across the table to the gates 130lv f.- The gates 130 are partially closed by slides as to allow only the bottom particles to pass under them. The concentrates from the gates 134 also pass into the conveyer 22 and may be carried upwardly thereby to the spout 20V or they may be dropped through by-pass gates 136'into the conveyer 24 and be carried by that conveyer to the elevator 25, and from the elevator through the hopper 19 to the table for reworking. The concentratesthat reach the lIlya-tes 134 may either be passed down the ta le by closing the slides 135 or may be passed through. When passed through they 'may be carried either to the spout 29 or to the head of the table. They may thus be either rejected, passed for reworking, or directly saved.

The material which passes the gates 130 and 134 still contains considerable valuable material and the rimes terminate at the bottom of the table in a series of lanes 137, each terminating at a hole 138 which is closed by a thin metal slide 139. The lighter and less valuable materials spill out of the lanes andare discharged over the apron 140 into the-spout 21. The lower portion only of the material in the lanes 137 is skimmed out by the slides 139 and passes downwardly through the holes 138 into the conveyer 23.

This conveyer discharges throu h a hole 141 into the conveyer 24 through w ich it passes on its way to the head of the table for retreatment.

In the operation of my invention it is necessary to make the various adjustments to suit the ores. For example, it is necessary to regulate the throw of the table by adjusting the eccentrics 76 by adjusting the sleeves 80 on the sleeve 79. r`It is further necessary to adjust the speed of the eccentrics by adjusting the roller 115 on the disk 114. l

It is further necessary to adjust 'the speed of the bellows by adjusting the belt 123 and the throw by adjusting the pin 126.

- The character of the pull's of air is adjusted by the valve 15. The inclination of the table is adjusted by the screws 34 and the inclination of the riffles by turning the concentrator bodily4 around the pivot 40 by means of the handle 43. As the table operates the operator watches the various ,materials and uses his judgment as to what portion should be saved, what portion should be retreated, and what portion should be thrown into the tailings. The operator may also adjust the throw of the table bI actuating the crank 72.

It will be noted rom Fig. 6 that a portion 150 at the head of the table is.-blocked off by walls 151 and 152. It will` be further noted that 'the ends of the riflles`68 are cut away adjacent to the Walls 151 forming a narrow cleaning lane adjacent thereto and that this lane extends down in front of concentrator gates 130. The purpose of the area 150 is to start the pulped ore away from the concentrates discharge side of the table and the table is lso inclined that the tailings travel still farther away taking the course indicated by the line A-A. The space between this line and the concentrates discharge side of the table forms a cleaning area in which the concentrates are still further separated from tailings.

The cleaning lanes 153 are formed for the purpose of relieving the extreme end of the rillles 68 from concentrates and allowing the same to travel down the lanes to the gates 130.

When the partial concentrates are re turned to the head of thetable for retreatment it will be noted that they are fed into the hopper at a point immediately adjacent to the area 150 and pass onto the table near that area. As this material is already partially concentrated the travel down the table and across the cleaning area results in a nal concentration of the ore.

1. A dry concentrator comprising an inclined perforated table provided with diagonalriiles, means for oscillating said table, means for passing air through said table, and means for adjusting said table about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the table.

2. A dry concentrator comprising an inclined erforated table provided with diagonal ri es, means for oscillating said table, means for passing air through said table, and means for adjusting said table about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the table to vary 'the effective angle of said riles with the horizontal. y.

3. In a dry concentrator, a table formed of a layer of wire mesh, a layer of canvas,

and a smooth sheet of perforated material concentrates passing outwardly between said walls, means being provided for skimming ofi' the lower portion of the material passing between said Walls. l

ln a dry concentrator, a table having on its upper surface a series of diagonal rilies, a series of low converging Walls at the lower end of said table so placed as t0 form narrow lanes to take all the discharge from said riiles, and thin plates between said walls in said lanes partially covering a series of holes :in 'the table.

6. A dry concentratorl comprising a perforated inclined oscillating table having diagonal ri'lies thereon, means for oscillating 15 In testimony whereof, l have hereunto set `20 my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 13th day of December, 1913.

JAMES B. FREEMAN. En presence of FRED A. MANsrIELn, Fono Hamm. 

